Republican senators propose stricter sanctions against Iran

WASHINGTON (AP) — A group of Republican senators on Thursday unveiled legislation that requires the Obama administration to impose stricter sanctions on every sector of Iran's economy that supports the country's ballistic missile program.

The bill, introduced by Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., is a reflection of longstanding exasperation among GOP lawmakers who've complained that President Barack Obama has failed to properly punish Tehran for repeatedly defying a U.N. ballistic missile test ban.

Ayotte and other Republicans said senior U.S. military officials are in favor of tougher sanctions. Both Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Army Gen. Joseph Votel, Obama's choice to be the next U.S. commander for the Middle East, have told the Senate Armed Services Committee in the last week that harder hitting sanctions are necessary.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard test-fired two ballistic missiles on March 9 and U.S. officials said the launches were in defiance of the U.N. resolution, which calls for Tehran not to launch any ballistic missiles capable of delivering a nuclear weapon.

But Iran's U.N. Mission said in a statement that the country "has never sought to acquire nuclear weapons and never will in the future." It said the missile tests "were part of ongoing efforts of its armed forces to strengthen its legitimate defense capabilities ... against security threats."

The administration in January announced sanctions against Tehran for missile firings in late 2015, but Republicans called those measures tepid and weak.

Ayotte's legislation is supported by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, which suggests the bill could be taken up quickly. Republicans remain frustrated after they were unable to scuttle the international accord to check Iran's nuclear program in exchange for economic sanctions relief.

"Tough words alone will not deter the world's worst state sponsor of terrorism from continuing to develop its ballistic missile program," Ayotte said.

The legislation requires new sanctions against persons who knowingly aid Iran's missile program and against entities controlled or owned in part by Iran's primary ballistic missile organizations.

The bill also would mandate a broad reach by requiring the president to issue sanctions on entire sectors of Iran's economy found to be directly or indirectly supporting Iran's missile program.

Republican senators Marco Rubio of Florida, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Mark Kirk of Illinois also are backing the bill.